# Rusty Sword vs Mathonaut

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rusty Sword at 75% against Mathonaut's 0%. Rusty Sword also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Mathonaut's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Mathonaut is free to download; Rusty Sword costs $0.99 up front. Mathonaut sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Rusty Sword asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rusty Sword holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Rusty Sword's written reviews are positive against 0% of Mathonaut's.

Rusty Sword ships an update every 2 months, Mathonaut every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rusty Sword | Mathonaut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rusty-sword-vanguard-island/id1621728501/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathonaut/id1673790210/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 90 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PLOW DIGITAL, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621728503) | [Hugo Delaunay](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456648264) |

## What reviewers say

### Rusty Sword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rusty-sword-vanguard-island/id1621728501)

Embark on a nostalgic top-down adventure across a small island and a sprawling dungeon. Battle monsters, uncover secrets, and quest for a hidden relic with intuitive controls and classic 16-bit inspired graphics and music. Enjoy single-player or two-player co-op.

**Highlights:** Non-linear adventure structure, Intuitive touch or controller support, Secrets and Easter eggs, Two-player co-op mode, Nostalgic 16-bit graphics and music, Multiple display options, Multilingual support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mathonaut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathonaut/id1673790210)

Embark on a retro 2D platformer adventure where math meets space exploration. Solve equations to navigate treacherous caverns, manage oxygen, and uncover the secrets of a mysterious planet. Choose from unique characters and customize your challenge.

**Highlights:** Retro 2D platformer gameplay, Solve deadly equations, Space exploration theme, 20 challenging levels, Hardcore mode, Customizable characters and oxygen duration

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock new characters and more | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rusty Sword free?

Rusty Sword costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mathonaut free?

Mathonaut is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Rusty Sword or Mathonaut?

Rusty Sword is rated higher. Rusty Sword averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Mathonaut averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Rusty Sword or Mathonaut have ads?

Neither Rusty Sword nor Mathonaut shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rusty Sword or Mathonaut?

Rusty Sword ships an update every 2 months, and Mathonaut every 3 months. Most recently, Rusty Sword was updated on November 3, 2026 and Mathonaut on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*